X-ray system comprising an x-ray source, a detector assembly, and an aperture

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an X-ray system for voluminous objects, known in the form of mobile devices that are displaced over the object, or in the form of fixed X-ray systems through which a voluminous object to be inspected (inspection product) is passed. Heavy goods vehicles or delivery vans (VAN) frequently constitute said objects to be inspected and pass through the silhouette system under their own propulsion. The X-rays are activated and deactivated by a preferably three-phase photoelectric barrier system. The aim of the invention is to activate or deactivate the X-rays of an X-ray source using a simple barcode that is attached to an object to be inspected, the object being driven past the X-ray source at a defined distance from the latter. The X-rays of X-ray sources of this type are generally activated by a diaphragm. It is thus advantageous if a barcode reader is located in a predetermined proximity to the diaphragm to define the activation or deactivation of the X-rays.

[0001] The invention relates to an X-ray system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 195 32 965 C2 discloses an X-ray examining system for large objects. This system is moved as a self-propelled device over the object.

[0003] Also known are stationary X-ray examining systems wherein the large test object (inspection item) travels through the system. Frequently the test object is comprised of trucks and delivery vans (VAN), which travel through the silhouette system under their own power. The X-rays are activated and deactivated by means of a preferably three-stage light barrier system.

[0004] However, this system has the disadvantage that the activation of the X-rays is, and must be, set for a known maximum-length cab (driver's cab) so that activation of the X-rays is delayed for shorter cabs, resulting in incomplete detection of the load.

[0005] This or other non-contact systems are often used for identification and simple position finding of objects.

PRIOR ART

[0006] Thus, a method and a device for non-contact position finding and/or identification of an object is also known, which is described in DE 199 40 403 A1. Here, in addition to a transponder system, an optical sensor is also used which additionally scans the object. Hence the object is identified and/or its position is determined from a combination of the optical data acquired by the optical sensor and the transponder data. These optical data may be affixed to the object in the form of a barcode.

[0007] DE 198 56 107 A1 discloses an apparatus for labeling luggage that consists of non-contact read and write data carriers located on the luggage to ensure reliable identification.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray system especially for large objects that operates as a function of the object and thus provides precise detection.

[0009] The object is attained by the features of claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention is based on the concept of activating and deactivating the X-rays from an X-ray source using a simple barcode that is affixed to an object to be inspected, wherein the object is moved past the X-ray source at a defined distance therefrom.

[0011] It is well known that the X-rays from such X-ray sources are activated by means of a diaphragm. Consequently, it is advantageous for a barcode reader to be located in a predetermined proximity to the diaphragm to define the activation and deactivation of the X-rays.

[0012] In a simple embodiment, the barcode is used to activate the X-rays at a precise point, thus providing precise detection, while deactivation can be accomplished with light barriers in a known manner.

[0013] In another embodiment, an additional barcode can be used for deactivating the X-rays as well.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barcode is composed of object-dependent data.

[0015] These object-dependent data may be taken from the vehicle registration papers, among other sources, and define vehicle length in addition to vehicle type so that deactivation of the X-rays can be achieved using a special data processing logic with knowledge of the vehicle length. The object-dependent data are also useful in image management, etc.

[0016] Preferably these objects are large voluminous objects, which may be, for example, trucks, delivery vans, cargo containers, etc. In this context the X-ray system itself may be mobile or stationary in design.

[0017] One advantage of using a barcode to control the X-rays resides in the fact that the examination is independent of the cab length, type of truck, and so on. In addition, targeted transillumination of sections of an object may be undertaken by the barcode, for instance, when only this specific section is of interest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention shall be explained in detail using an example embodiment and drawing. One skilled in the art will take the individual features of the description, the claims and the drawings and combine them into additional useful combinations.

[0019] Shown are:

[0020]FIG. 1 an X-ray system in a reduced view,

[0021]FIG. 2 a small vehicle without a separate driver's cab,

[0022]FIG. 3 a larger vehicle with a separate driver's cab,

[0023]FIG. 4 another variant of FIG. 3.

WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

[0024]FIG. 1 shows, in somewhat stylized form, a known X-ray system 1 for inspection of large objects 5,6, such as motor vehicles, cargo containers, etc., wherein only the parts important for the invention have been drawn.

[0025] Located in the X-ray system 1 is preferably an X-ray source (not shown), from which at least one X-ray beam FX is emitted and collimated through a diaphragm 2 on the X-ray system 1 for the duration of the transillumination of the object. The beam FX impinges on a detector assembly 3, which here takes the form of a linear detector. A barcode reader 4 is installed in or on the X-ray system 1 preferably in the immediate vicinity of the diaphragm 2.

[0026]FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 depict two different objects 5, 6 to be transilluminated, wherein the cab 5.1 of the object 5 in FIG. 2 is not separate from the cargo area 5.2, while the object 6 in FIGS. 3 and 4 has, in addition to a cargo area 6.2, a driver's cab 6.1 that is separate from the cargo area 6.2.

[0027] In accordance with the concept of the invention, a barcode 7 is affixed to the objects 5, 6. If the object 5 passes the barcode reader 4, the reader identifies the objects 5 by the barcode 7, which is affixed in front of an inspection start 8 of the cargo area 5.2 that the X-ray beam FX should be activated by opening the diaphragm 2.

[0028] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the barcode 7 on the object 6—in contrast to the object 5—is not located on the vehicle cab, but is located on the cargo area 6.2, and it, too, defines activation of the X-ray beam FX at inspection start 8.

[0029] In both cases, deactivation of the X-ray beam can take place in a known manner by means of a light barrier system (not shown here).

[0030]FIG. 4 shows a further development of FIG. 3. Here, the barcode 7 defines an inspection start 8 and a barcode 9 defines an inspection end 10. In the process, a part of the vehicle cab 6.1 where the driver is not located may be inspected as well.

[0031] Additional large objects that may be inspected using this X-ray system 1 also include cargo containers and similar objects, wherein the X-ray system 1 shown as stationary in FIG. 1 may also be designed as a self-propelled X-ray system.

[0032] The proposed solution makes it possible to transilluminate at a precise point even objects 5, 6 with different shapes and dimensions, resulting, for example, from the vehicle cabs 5.1, 6.1 of different length and cargo areas 5.2, 6.2 of different length, whereby, the barcode 7 is affixed as desired to the object 5, 6. The barcode 7 can be affixed to the object 5, 6 by a magnetic disk or an adhesive. The distance between the barcode reader 4 and the diaphragm 2 determines the location where the barcode 7 is affixed to the object 5, 6, which is to say the distance of the barcode 7 to be affixed to the object 5, 6 from the inspection start 8 or from the inspection end 9 of the object 5, 6. 

1. X-ray system having at least one X-ray source for producing at least one X-ray beam, at least one detector assembly, and at least one diaphragm which passes the X-rays toward the detector assembly, characterized in that a barcode reader (4) is affixed in a predetermined proximity to the diaphragm (2), which detects a barcode (7) on an object (5, 6) moved along the diaphragm (2), thus causing the diaphragm (2) to be opened and/or closed once the barcode (7) has been detected.
 2. X-ray system from claim 1, characterized in that the opening or closing of the diaphragm (3) is triggered by a defined inspection start (8) or a defined inspection end (9) of the object (5, 6) moved past the diaphragm (2).
 3. X-ray system from claim 2, characterized in that the barcode (7) contains the information on an inspection start (8) at a precise point or an inspection end (9) at a precise point or both.
 4. X-ray system from one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the barcode (7) contains additional information about the object (5, 6) as object-dependent data.
 5. X-ray system from claim 4, characterized in that this information can be used for later data processing.
 6. X-ray system from claim 4, characterized in that this information can be used at opening or closing of the diaphragm (3) for activating and/or deactivating the at least one X-ray beam (FX).
 7. X-ray system from one of the preceding claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the object (5, 6) can be moved past the X-ray system (1) at a distance of up to 1.50 m from the barcode reader (4).
 8. X-ray system from one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the distance between the barcode reader (4) and the diaphragm (2) determines the distance between the barcode (7) to be applied to the object (5, 6) and the inspection start (8) or the inspection end (9) of the object (5, 6).
 9. X-ray system from one of claims 1 through 8, characterized in that the barcode (7) is applied to the object (5, 6) by means of a magnetic disk or an adhesive.
 10. X-ray system from one of the preceding claims 1 through 9, characterized in that the objects (5, 6) are large.
 11. X-ray system from claim 10, characterized in that the objects (5, 6) are motor vehicles with different length driver's cabs (5.2, 6.2) and cargo areas (5.1, 6.1) to which the barcode (7) is applied as desired.
 12. X-ray system from claim 10, characterized in that the object to be inspected is a cargo container. 